OTTAWA—The Conservative government distanced itself Monday from the leak of a classified videotaped interview with Guantanamo prisoner Omar Khadr that angered the U.S. administration and dodged calls for a probe into its source.
The Star reported Friday officials in the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama were furious about what they view as a serious “breach of trust.”
NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar told the Commons Monday it is “no laughing matter when our closest ally is privately questioning whether Canada can be trusted to keep secrets.”
“Senior U.S. officials are calling the leaked documents around Omar Khadr a serious breach of trust. Will the minister take responsibility and investigate the leak and will he reassure our allies that Canada is a reliable partner?”
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews did not answer two questions about whether he would launch an investigation of the leak — as the government has done in the past when material it deems sensitive has leaked.
Toews rejected opposition suggestions the leak undermines American confidence in sharing security secrets.
“Our allies know exactly that they can trust us implicitly on this matter,” he told the Commons.
The minister refused to speculate on the accuracy of a Maclean’s article’s based on the Khadr interview, or the magazine’s source.
Maclean’s said its writer “viewed a complete transcript” of a seven-hour interview between Khadr and Dr. Michael Welner, a forensic psychiatrist hired by the Pentagon’s prosecution team.
Toews repeated an earlier PMO line that “access to these documents is strictly controlled within the government of Canada.”
At the same time, Toews said he “never received any transcripts from the Americans” — an apparent denial that his office might have been responsible.
Maclean’s published its “world exclusive” story in an issue dated Oct. 1 on newsstands now.
The full interview was provided in confidence by U.S. authorities to the government of Canada as it weighs Khadr’s request to transfer to a Canadian prison from Guantanamo Bay.
“Because of the importance of the relationship with Canada they got an un-redacted document that was secret and under court order,” a senior Obama administration official with knowledge of the case told the Toronto Star, on the condition of anonymity.
The official suggested it was a serious “breach of trust” that threatens to undermine U.S. confidence in Canada’s ability to maintain secrecy over confidential intelligence.
“Nobody else had access to it and days later it’s leaked to a publication none of us have heard of?” the U.S. official said.
“We’re just stunned.”
The turn of events is another twist in a strange diplomatic two-step between the two countries over handling of Khadr.
On Monday, Toews sniped at NDP members for pre-judging the Khadr matter, through what he said was their support for a $10 million civil lawsuit filed by Khadr.
Khadr has sued the Canadian government for complicity in his pre-trial ordeal — which included interrogations by Canadian officials that were condemned by Canadian courts for failing to observe his rights.
The Khadr interview excerpts cited by Maclean’s magazine show Khadr to be largely uncooperative with Welner, the psychiatrist.
It was conducted months before Khadr pleaded guilty in October 2010 to five war crimes, including murder for the death of a U.S. soldier in a 2002 gunfight. As part of the plea agreement, Khadr was sentenced to eight years in prison, after Canada sent a diplomatic note saying it would “favourably consider” Khadr’s prison transfer request after one more year served in Guantanamo.
The U.S. approved the transfer request in April, but Ottawa asked for more supporting documentation to assess Khadr’s mental state.
Welner suggested Friday that Khadr’s legal defence team, if not with the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, could have leaked the document.
Khadr’s military-appointed defence lawyers denied any disclosure of the tape or the transcript, and his Canadian lawyers said they have never been provided or seen the transcript or video.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Tonda MacCharles
The Star reported Friday officials in the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama were furious about what they view as a serious “breach of trust.”
NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar told the Commons Monday it is “no laughing matter when our closest ally is privately questioning whether Canada can be trusted to keep secrets.”
“Senior U.S. officials are calling the leaked documents around Omar Khadr a serious breach of trust. Will the minister take responsibility and investigate the leak and will he reassure our allies that Canada is a reliable partner?”
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews did not answer two questions about whether he would launch an investigation of the leak — as the government has done in the past when material it deems sensitive has leaked.
Toews rejected opposition suggestions the leak undermines American confidence in sharing security secrets.
“Our allies know exactly that they can trust us implicitly on this matter,” he told the Commons.
The minister refused to speculate on the accuracy of a Maclean’s article’s based on the Khadr interview, or the magazine’s source.
Maclean’s said its writer “viewed a complete transcript” of a seven-hour interview between Khadr and Dr. Michael Welner, a forensic psychiatrist hired by the Pentagon’s prosecution team.
Toews repeated an earlier PMO line that “access to these documents is strictly controlled within the government of Canada.”
At the same time, Toews said he “never received any transcripts from the Americans” — an apparent denial that his office might have been responsible.
Maclean’s published its “world exclusive” story in an issue dated Oct. 1 on newsstands now.
The full interview was provided in confidence by U.S. authorities to the government of Canada as it weighs Khadr’s request to transfer to a Canadian prison from Guantanamo Bay.
“Because of the importance of the relationship with Canada they got an un-redacted document that was secret and under court order,” a senior Obama administration official with knowledge of the case told the Toronto Star, on the condition of anonymity.
The official suggested it was a serious “breach of trust” that threatens to undermine U.S. confidence in Canada’s ability to maintain secrecy over confidential intelligence.
“Nobody else had access to it and days later it’s leaked to a publication none of us have heard of?” the U.S. official said.
“We’re just stunned.”
The turn of events is another twist in a strange diplomatic two-step between the two countries over handling of Khadr.
On Monday, Toews sniped at NDP members for pre-judging the Khadr matter, through what he said was their support for a $10 million civil lawsuit filed by Khadr.
Khadr has sued the Canadian government for complicity in his pre-trial ordeal — which included interrogations by Canadian officials that were condemned by Canadian courts for failing to observe his rights.
The Khadr interview excerpts cited by Maclean’s magazine show Khadr to be largely uncooperative with Welner, the psychiatrist.
It was conducted months before Khadr pleaded guilty in October 2010 to five war crimes, including murder for the death of a U.S. soldier in a 2002 gunfight. As part of the plea agreement, Khadr was sentenced to eight years in prison, after Canada sent a diplomatic note saying it would “favourably consider” Khadr’s prison transfer request after one more year served in Guantanamo.
The U.S. approved the transfer request in April, but Ottawa asked for more supporting documentation to assess Khadr’s mental state.
Welner suggested Friday that Khadr’s legal defence team, if not with the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, could have leaked the document.
Khadr’s military-appointed defence lawyers denied any disclosure of the tape or the transcript, and his Canadian lawyers said they have never been provided or seen the transcript or video.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Tonda MacCharles
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